Le Saux is right on

The pivotal moment for Graeme Le Saux came midway through the first half against Preston when he switched from the left to the right flank to shore up Chelsea's shaky defence.

It was almost as if he was sending out a message to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson: "You may not fancy me as a left back but how about the right?"

A minute after Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri made the switch, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink worked a neat interchange with his striking partner Eidur Gudjohnsen to put Chelsea into the lead for the first time in the match. It was the Dutchman's 50th goal for the club.

From then on a gallant Preston side did their level best but, with Le Saux playing well on his leastfavoured side, Chelsea held out for victory and earned a chance for revenge against Tottenham in the quarter-finals.

Le Saux has kept his feelings to himself but, at the very least, he would have been perplexed at his omission for Eriksson's squad for the friendly against Holland.

On the face of it, he would never have a better chance, with an injury to Arsenal's Ashley Cole leaving the door wide open.

Bridge acquitted himself well on his debut while Powell was immaculate when he came on for the youngster at half-time.

The message seems to be clear for Le Saux, however. At 33, his international career looks all but over.

He won the last of his 36 caps in Kevin Keegan's last match in charge, the 1-0 Euro 2000 qualifying tie defeat by Germany at Wembley in October 2000.

Since then the Jersey-born star has been in the international wilderness although, in recent weeks, he has been playing some of the most consistent football of his career.

If the Chelsea defender is not in the squad for next month's game against Italy in Leeds, he may just as well book the family holiday for June.

There are those who believe though, that, over on that problem left side for England, a combination of Cole and Le Saux would be a potent combination.

There is no doubt that Le Saux has one of the sweetest left foots in the business. His crosses and free-kicks frequently cause havoc in the best of defences and, like Cole, he loves to go raiding down that left flank.

The defensive part of his game has been called into question in the past, as has his temperament but judging from recent performances, he has worked hard on both facets of his game.

Both Eriksson and his assistant, Tord Grip, have watched Le Saux in recent matches and there was a feeling within Chelsea that he would be called up against the Dutch.

Chelsea could consider themselves a little fortunate against Preston, especially after Richard Cresswell had put the visitors in front, heading home unmarked in the ninth minute.

Chelsea, without injured central defenders John Terry and William Gallas, plus the suspended Mario Melchiot, looked distinctly fragile early on and goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini came to their rescue three minutes after the goal when he saved brilliantly from Preston dangerman Jon Macken.

The Stamford Bridge pitch may be conducive to growing King Edwards but the surface certainly didn't help Chelsea's passing game.

Preston could have been awarded a penalty when makeshift central defender Emmanuel Petit appeared to haul back Lee Cartwright but by that time it was 1-1, Hasselbaink having fed Gudjohnsen a simple chance.

Jody Morris replaced hamstring victim Marcel Desailly in the 68th minute but it was two other Chelsea substitutes who figured in their third goal in the last minute.

Cudicini had just made another fine save, this time from Macken's header, when Joe Keenan flighted a peach of a ball over the Preston defence for Mikael Forssell to first control it and then draw goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen before slotting home.

"It seems to be normal that we start slow in the match which follows international week," said Chelsea's Gianfranco Zola. "It was difficult to get going but we were determined to win and we improved a little bit as the match went on.

"It's a great feeling to win the Cup and now we have got a good chance."

Preston manager David Moyes believed his side should have been awarded a late penalty when Celestine Babayaro challenged Macken.

"If it had happened to Chelsea, they would have got the decision," said Moyes. "I don't believe we got our fair share of decisions."

Chelsea's Danish international midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer, meanwhile, is on the way back.

The former Ajax star has been out for five months with an serious knee injury but is due to make his comeback on Wednesday night in a reserve team match at Watford.

Gronkjaer could even be back in contention, should things go well, for Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final tie away to Tottenham on 10 March.

However, Ranieri will definitely be without their Croatian midfield star Mario Stanic for that tie.

Stanic was booked against Preston, his 10th yellow card of the season, and will be suspended for the Blues' Premiership derby at home to Fulham on 6 March and the tie at Spurs.

Melchiot will be back from suspension to face Charlton on 2 March. William Gallas should also be available again following injury.